On September 14th, the Dodgers show that getting back to basics can pay off in a big way. After a tough stretch that lasted about two and a half months, the team focused on improving the fundamentals, like shorting their swings, using the whole field, and not just swinging for home runs. That approach fueled a 10-2 win against the Giants, clinching a key series and keeping the Dodgers ahead in the National League West. Over the weekend in San Francisco, the Dodgers lineup delivered 18 hits, with 16 of those being singles and worked six walks.
Players like Tia Scahranandez, who had four hits, and Freddy Freeman, Mookie Betz, and Michael Conforto, who each added three, really stepped up. The team kept the line moving, grinding out at Betz, and never letting up on the Giants. Even Shihail Tani didn't get a hit until the ninth inning, but by then, the game was firmly in hand. The offense started rolling early, thanks to productive outs, walks, and smart base running.
By the fifth inning, they pulled off a four-run rally that knocked Giants starter Robbie Ray from the game. Michael Conforto came off the bench for a two-run pinch-hit single, and Miguel Rojas piled on in the sixth with a two-run single. The Dodgers kept picking up insurance runs late, showing a different side than their usual home run heavy style. This returns a fundamentals meant the Dodgers could score in a variety of ways.
Only one of their 23 runs over the weekend came via the long ball. That's a big shift for a team that has relied so much on Homer's all year, ranking at the top of the league for runs generated that way. The change in approach is exactly what the Dodgers need to stay competitive as the season winds down, and they head into potentially tougher playoff match-ups. Pitching also played its part, with Tyler Glaz now getting through early-command issues to deliver nearly seven-solid innings and pick up his second straight win.
It all adds up to a Dodgers team that's finally seeing results from their renewed focus on the basics, finding different ways to win, putting pressure on opposing pitchers, and not depending solely on power. If they keep this up, they could be peaking at just the right time.